Food Business Licence
To open a restaurant, snack shop, café or food factory you need a food business licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) before you can trade. There are 11 types of food licence, depending on the size of the shop, what you sell and where it is. We work out which one you need, prepare the documents and follow up with FEHD and the Fire Services Department until the licence is issued.
The application service costs about HK$20,000 to 40,000 depending on the licence type; we arrange a site visit within 1 day. Company registration, business registration, later renewals and the annual fire inspection are all followed up in the same WhatsApp group.
Trust or Company Service Provider licence TC007926
Which licence does your shop need?
| Type of shop | Suggested size | Licence usually applied for | Application service fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takeaway snack shop (no seating) | 70 sq ft or more | Food factory, frozen confection factory or bakery licence | about HK$20,000 |
| Café or light-refreshment shop (with seating) | over 400 sq ft | Light refreshment restaurant licence | about HK$30,000 |
| Restaurant or hotpot restaurant | over 800 sq ft | General restaurant licence; liquor licence if you serve alcohol | about HK$40,000 |
| Food factory and others | usually in industrial buildings | Food factory or frozen confection factory licence | about HK$20,000 |
Approximate fees for the licence application service, not including government licence fees or fit-out works. Fit-out, stainless-steel kitchen fittings and fire and ventilation works are handled by the group's engineering team and can be arranged together. Fit-out budgets and full fees by shop type: Services and fees →
Licences and permits we handle
| Licence | |
|---|---|
| General restaurant licence | May prepare and sell most kinds of food; the shop must be at least 30 sq m |
| Light refreshment restaurant licence | For cafés and light-refreshment shops; seating allowed |
| Food factory licence | Takeaway shops, central kitchens, food workshops |
| Bakery licence | Bread and pastries |
| Frozen confection factory licence | Ice cream and frozen desserts |
| Milk factory licence | Milk and milk drinks |
| Siu mei and lo mei shop licence | Roast and marinated meats |
| Fresh provision shop licence | Fresh meat, fish, poultry |
| Factory canteen licence | Staff canteens in industrial buildings |
| Liquor licence | Selling alcoholic drinks; a separate application |
| Other permits | Herbal tea, restricted foods, reheating, clubs, guesthouses, karaoke |
Government fees — restaurants
| Licence | Floor area | New full licence / year | Renewal / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| General restaurant | Up to 250 m² | 1,110–3,940 | 2,520–5,650 |
| General restaurant | Over 250, up to 1,000 m² | 5,150–22,190 | 6,860–23,900 |
| General restaurant | Over 1,000 m² | 36,040–123,360 | 37,750–125,840 |
| Light refreshment restaurant | Up to 250 m² | 400–2,360 | 1,810–4,070 |
| Light refreshment restaurant | Over 250, up to 1,000 m² | 3,250–15,410 | 4,960–17,120 |
| Light refreshment restaurant | Over 1,000 m² | 25,310–87,570 | 27,020–90,050 |
All amounts in HK dollars. A price range covers several official area bands. Your exact fee depends on the premises' floor area. From 1 November 2025, the new full-licence fee excludes the prescribed Fire Services Department fees. Renewal fees are unchanged. These are government charges, separate from our consultancy fee.
Renewing a food licence: the steps
- FEHD posts a renewal application form to the licensee about 4 months before the licence expires. Even if it does not arrive, the licensee is still responsible for renewing before expiry.
- Submit the application within the 4 months before the licence expires. Applying after expiry is an offence; the licence is cancelled and you must apply afresh.
- Complete the annual fire and ventilation inspection first and obtain the Fire Services Department's letter of no objection.
- Prepare the documents: renewal application form (FEHB 101A), a copy of the valid Business Registration Certificate, a copy of the applicant's identity document, a copy of the current licence, and the letter of no objection.
- Standard full-licence renewal fees start at HK$2,520 for general restaurants, HK$1,810 for light refreshment restaurants, and HK$2,710 for factory canteens, for premises up to 100 m². Larger premises pay by floor-area band.
- FEHD officers may inspect without notice to confirm there are no unauthorised structures, the fire equipment is in order and the hygiene record is clean.
Food business licences are issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, with the Fire Services Department and the Buildings Department involved in approval. The group’s licensing team has handled over 1,000 cases and knows each department’s requirements. The requirements and government licence fees for each licence are on the licence pages below; project cases are on Our projects.
Food licences in detail
Food licence questions
What licence do I need to open a restaurant?
What does a general restaurant licence require?
How long does it take?
What else is needed besides the licence?
Can a licence be transferred?
Do I need a company to open a restaurant?
Ask us
Leave your details and we reply within 2 hours, or WhatsApp 5520 1118 directly.